Jets quarterbacks take hunting and camping trip over bye week

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerJets QB Mark Sanchez said the Jets looked as crisp as he's seen them in a post-bye practice on Monday.

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez spent part of his bye week home in California, watching alma maters Mission Viejo and USC. He spent the rest on a hunting and camping trip with teammates Mark Brunell and Kevin O'Connell.

The three quarterbacks went on the outdoors trip about 30 minutes from the team's facility in New Jersey, Sanchez said today on his weekly interview with ESPN 1050 radio.

"It was really fun, something I don't get to do a lot," Sanchez said. "We talked about the season, our families, guy stuff — it was cool, really fun."

Sanchez said Brunell is an avid bow-hunter of deer, dubbing him "Robin Hood." Sanchez and O'Connell, meanwhile, helped spot and track the deer. They later ate what Brunell had caught.

The Jets returned to practice yesterday, which Sanchez said was the sharpest he has seen the team coming off a bye week in his three years in the NFL. After practice, LG Matt Slauson made waves by calling Wayne Hunter an upgrade at right tackle over the retired Damien Woody.

"I think he's paying a compliment to Wayne; I don't think it's any slight on (Woody)," Sanchez said. "I've had the luxury of playing behind both of those guys, and they're great people, great teammates, and ever better players. I think Wayne is really coming into his own right now, and really establishing himself in his right tackle spot and as a starter for the first time ... I'm thrilled with his production. Both guys are great in my book, and I think (Slauson) was just giving Wayne a compliment."

Woody also responded to Slauson's comments yesterday, saying they didn't bother him in the least, and that he hopes Hunter will succeed, calling himself one of Hunter's "biggest advocates."

"I look at it as, obviously (Slauson) has an opinion and that's fine," Woody said in a telephone interview. "Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. But I'm confident, I feel great about what I've accomplished throughout my career, particularly with the Jets, and what I brought to the team.

"I have nothing but fond memories and Slauson is a great guy, we have a special bond in that room and I got nothing but the utmost respect for those guys. Honestly, he's supposed to support his guy. I'm not even in the locker room anymore, even though I know those guys I'm not in there anymore, so he's an ex-teammate.

"He's supposed to support his guy and I support Wayne Hunter too. I'm his biggest advocate, I want him to do well and succeed, he's a great guy. Did it bother me? Not at all, I'm happy where I'm at."